Soon, affordable health cover for all Rs 5,000 cr health insurance scheme on anvil

New Delhi: In a significant move aimed at providing affordable health coverage to every common man, the Centre has planned to roll out a Rs 5,000-crore health insurance scheme for all.

According to sources, the government has proposed to provide insurance cover to all residents living below poverty line (BPL) free, which means they don't have to pay any premium to avail the benefit of insurance coverage during their treatment even in private hospitals.

The sources further said that beneficiaries earning less than Rs 2 lakh would be exempted from paying the premium, while beneficiaries earning above Rs 2 lakh would not get an exemption and they would have to pay the premium, which would be very nominal.

"The beneficiaries would get insurance cover between Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh under the scheme for their treatment which would be part of the centrally sponsored scheme. The Centre would contribute 60 percent while state governments would bear the rest," the sources said.

According to sources, the scheme has been prepared by Niti Aayog in consultation with the Prime Ministers' Office (PMO) and other stakeholders, including the Ministries of Finance, Health, etc.

According to the proposal, workers availing healthcare facilities through the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) would also get the option to enrol themselves under the national health insurance scheme.

"Most of the issues have been finalised. The ministry in consultation with other stakeholders would finalise the amount of premium very soon," the sources said.